Unit 2: Incident Reporting Protocols: Compliance with OSHA Standards
Course Objectives
- Explain employer and employee responsibilities under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act related to sharps injury reporting and follow-up.
- Apply OSHA-mandated post-exposure procedures by identifying correct immediate actions, documentation requirements, and medical evaluation steps following a needlestick or sharps injury.
- Analyze common barriers to exposure reporting and identify strategies that support a non-punitive reporting culture and regulatory compliance within healthcare settings.
Course Content
Course Creator: Kris Fox CPT
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour
Pace Course #: 586-2132-25
Course description:
Needlestick and sharps-related injuries remain one of the most widespread—and most preventable—risks to healthcare professionals. OSHA requires employers to maintain a safe workplace through engineering controls, safer needle devices, exposure control plans, and clear reporting procedures. Yet thousands of injuries still go unreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness.
Needlestick and sharps-related injuries remain one of the most widespread—and most preventable—risks to healthcare professionals. OSHA requires employers to maintain a safe workplace through engineering controls, safer needle devices, exposure control plans, and clear reporting procedures. Yet thousands of injuries still go unreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness.
This article provides a practical, easy-to-understand guide for healthcare workers on OSHA-compliant incident reporting, immediate steps after exposure, documentation requirements, post-exposure protocols, and strategies for building a culture of safety where reporting becomes the norm, not the exception.
References:
References:
- Kinshella, A. L. (2025). The Foundations Of Modern Phlebotomy (1st edition). Intelvio, LLC.
- (n.d.). Sharps Safety Program Resources. CDC. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/sharps-safety/index.html#
- (n.d.). Addressing the Ongoing Challenge of Sharps Injuries: A Commitment to Workplace Safety. AOHP Journal. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://retractable.com/addressing-the-ongoing-challenge-of-sharps-injuries-a-commitment-to-workplace-safety/#
- (n.d.). Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention. OSHA. Retrieved November 28, 2025, from https://www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens
- (n.d.). The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard: An Overview. University System of Georgia Bloodborne Pathogen Training. Retrieved December 1, 2025, from https://www.usg.edu/facilities/training/pathogens/1.php#
- (n.d.). Workbook for Designing, Implementing & Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. CDC. Retrieved December 1, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/sharps-safety/index.html
- (n.d.). Https://hivinfo.Nih.Gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Retrieved December 1, 2025, from https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep
- (n.d.). HIPAA Compliance and OSHA Intersections. Accountable. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep
- (2025, April 25). OSHA and HIPAA Compliance. HIPAA JOURNAL. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.hipaajournal.com/osha-and-hipaa-compliance/
- (2018, October 23). Needlestick Injuries among Healthcare Workers: Why They Do Not Report their Incidence? National Library of Medicine. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.hipaajournal.com/osha-and-hipaa-compliance/
